A few of Choice Hotels most frequent guests recently received a nice surprise in their mailbox. The Choice Privileges program has introduced Lifetime Elite Gold status for those members who have reached one million points earned from hotel stays. Lifetime Elite Gold is a permanent status that a member keeps regardless of their hotel stay activity. Lifetime members receive a Lifetime Elite Gold card and will have all Elite Gold benefits anytime they stay with Choice Hotels, including the 10 percent point bonus.

Bottom line: As one member pointed out, “As long as I keep my (no annual fee) Barclay card, I have effective lifetime Gold, too.” But it’s good to see the program offer lifetime status. Gold is the lowest status level in Choice’s three-tiered elite program, and along with the 10 percent point bonus on stays, members receive an extended award booking window of 50 days before the award stay over the usual 30 days, among other offers.